All-League Girls’ Volleyball: Taylor shares MVP
Corona del Mar High senior middle blocker Britton Taylor shared the Pacific Coast League MVP award in girls’ volleyball after helping the Sea Kings claim their sixth straight league championship and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division I-A championship match.
Taylor is one of four CdM players earning first-team honors. The other Sea Kings are senior libero Mary McKennon, junior setter Kelsey Humphries and junior outside hitter Grace Kennedy.
The foursome led CdM (32-5, 10-0 in league) to its third section final appearance in the last four years. Top-seeded Los Angeles Marymount defeated the second-seeded Sea Kings, 27-25, 21-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-12.
The Sea Kings also reached the semifinals of the CIF State Southern California Regional Division I playoffs. Los Alamitos beat CdM, 25-16, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25.
Taylor, who helped CdM knock off Newport Harbor in the Battle of the Bay rivalry match for the second straight year, finished with 303 kills and 57 blocks.
Taylor shared the league MVP honor with Northwood senior Kelsie Groot.
McKennon recorded 420 digs, 58 assists and 52 service aces.
Humphreys amassed 866 assists, 164 digs, 60 kills, 41 aces and 32 blocks.
Kennedy contributed 344 kills, to go with 130 digs and 25 aces.
CdM freshman outside hitter Hayley Hodson made the second team.
— From staff reports
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Kreitenberg honored
Sage Hill School senior middle blocker Zoe Kreitenberg received a share of the Academy League MVP award after leading the girls’ volleyball team to a share of the league title, an outright CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA title, and the program’s first CIF State Southern California Regional Division IV playoff appearance.
Kreitenberg helped the Lightning (25-6, 9-1 in league) win their third league crown and second section crown in the program’s history. Sage Hill defeated rival St. Margaret’s, 27-29, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-9, in the section finale.
Kreitenberg is joined on the first team by junior outside hitter Maggie Danner and freshman outside hitter Halland McKenna.
Kreitenberg finished first on the team with 304 kills and 46 blocks, to go with 52 service aces. Kreitenberg, who is bound for Army, shared the league MVP with St. Margaret’s Emily Moore.
Sage Hill and St. Margaret’s finished tied for first in league play.
Danner recorded 181 kills, 118 digs, 52 aces and 38 blocks.
McKenna had 233 kills, 281 digs and 71 aces.
Freshman setter Maddy Abbott and sophomore libero Claudia Noto each made the second team.
Senior outside hitter Natasha Sakraney was an honorable mention.
— From staff reports
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Trio on first team
Newport Harbor High standout senior outside hitter Cinnamon Sary highlights one of three Sailors earning first-team All-Sunset League accolades in girls’ volleyball after a deep run in the playoffs.
Sary is joined on the first team by senior outside hitter Kasey Thompson and senior libero Tatum Norton.
The trio helped the Sailors (26-10, 6-4 in league) finish third in league, appear in the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA title match, and reach the semifinals of the CIF State Southern California Regional Division I playoffs.
Newport Harbor faced rival Los Alamitos, which won the Sunset League, in the section finale. Second-seeded Los Alamitos swept the Sailors, 25-17, 26-24, 25-23.
Sary, who is bound for USC, finished with 452 kills, 183 assists, 112 digs, 29 blocks, 20 service aces. Sary is a three-time first-team selection.
Thompson contributed 277 kills, 78 blocks, 36 digs and 27 aces.
Norton had 278 digs and 23 aces.
Newport Harbor senior outside hitter Claire Castillo and junior setter Torey Thompson each made the second team.
Edison senior Cassie Strickland and Los Alamitos senior Jojo Schnabl shared the Sunset League MVP award.
— From staff reports